Trailblazer Times
November 20, 2020
Dear VBL Families,
YOU time (V BE L culture building time) was a lot of fun. This week students are collaborating about what they are thankful for as well as things they enjoy. We will be displaying the chain they are making together at our Thanksgiving picnic and field day. Many students are completing the Warrior Challenge and earning rewards as well. We are also making a giant turkey at the students' request.
Thanksgiving is around the corner and it has always been a VBL tradition to have a Thanksgiving Dinner here having students create their favorite recipes and share in thanks together. This year, we are going to do things a little differently and provide individual treats to students as well as plan outside activities and events for all students to enjoy together and reflect on what they can be thankful for. At this time I am asking parents to donate some treats and bags to give to students as well as time for help with activities on Tuesday, November 24th. Sign up here to help contribute food items and/or your time. Thank you in advance for your contributions and support.
Please remind students to be on time for each class with camera and microphone on and follow the same expectations that would be expected if they were here. Our goal is to make this as close to being at school as possible. Students should be following their schedule from home each day including spending their learning lab time on Edmentum. 7th and 8th grade students need to report to their Assessment Schoology course each Thursday at 9:00. 6th grade students need to report to their Assessment Schoology course at 10:10 each Thursday.
We understand if your student is unable to come to school or show up virtually for class, but we still need you to notify us before 9:00 a.m. that they will be missing classes.
Students and parents are assigned and notified if they have re-teach classes from 3:00-3:30 each week through email. Please help your student adapt their schedule when they are assigned re-teach. This is the time students have the opportunity to change their formative grades and learn concepts they are struggling with.
Reminder: if you have not updated your Caredox we can not treat your child if they are ill. Please go to Powerschool to update
Thank you for all of your support in this unusual circumstance. Please reach out for any reason.
Kristin
Hybrid and Brick to Click Learning Details
- 6th and 9th grade Monday - Thursday 9:00-3:30 in person
- 7th and 8th grade - 2 Days in person, 2 Days remote (Monday/Wednesday A-K, Tuesday/Thursday L-Z)
- Brick to Click will follow their schedule from home Monday-Thursday (the same as they have been doing the last 5 weeks)
- All students follow their schedule all days
- Friday will continue to be an elective day, currently the Leadership Elective in Edmentum
- Class sizes will be less than 15
- Students will rotate classes for ELA, Math, Science and Learning Lab
- During Learning Lab students will be seated one to a table
Thanksgiving Picnic
Sign up for contributions here.
VBL Daily Schedule
In Person and At Home Learning Expectations
- Student will participate in lessons according to their schedule each day.
- Rigorous grade level content in Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts will be provided by teachers.
- Lessons will be delivered through Schoology.
- Student attendance will be counted DAILY.
- Parents and students will be given training in Schoology, Edmentum and other needs.
- Teachers will maintain connections with students through scheduled Schoology and Zoom Opportunities.
- Grading and feedback will be provided to students in a timely manner.
- Advanced math and re-teach will be available to students. Students in advanced math will be able to attend attend their recorded class at any time. Re-teach will be available daily directly following the instruction time.
- Re-teach will be assigned based upon formative testing results each week. Students and parents will be notified if they are required to attend re-teach.
- Special Education Support will be provided by Camille Haynie and our Special Education Support Team.
- Leadership Elective Course will be assigned and is mandatory for each student.
- All public, group and private chats comments are appropriate and relevant to topic
- Video and Microphone on at all times
- Speaker Courtesy - Active Listening skills
- Calendars in Google cal
- Eat and restroom during your learning lab times
School Supplies
ELA BOOKS ARE CHANGING FOR THE NEW QUARTER. IF YOU ARE A REMOTE LEARNER, PLEASE STOP BY TO EXCHANGE YOUR FIRST QUARTER BOOK FOR THE SECOND QUARTER BOOK.
In School Learning Supplies
Every day students are on campus, they will need:
- Mask (we are encouraging an extra "emergency" mask in backpacks) worn over nose and mouth in all classes and anytime 6ft of social distancing is not possible.
- Water Bottle- fillable at our touch-less water bottle filler
- Computer - fully charged each morning
- Charger
- Earbuds
- pencil and handheld pencil sharpener
- snacks
- lunch (school or personal)
What's for Lunch
Young Artists Contest
Artwork should be original and should depict
Arizona’s history, diverse cultures, landscapes,
architecture, fl ora and/or fauna
Grab and Go
Upcoming Changes Starting the Week of November 9th Include:
- Brick to Click and VIC Students - You can now pick up a seven day meal pack every Monday from 6:00-7:00 a.m. or 4:30-6:00 p.m.
- Hybrid Students - Students can now pick up a four day meal pack on Wednesday for A schedule middle and high school students and Thursday for B schedule and elementary students as you leave campus that day.
Please see the attached calendar to see when meals can be picked up, and when they can be sent home with your students.
Please contact vailfoodservice@vailschooldistrict.org with any questions or concerns you may have.
Computers at School
If you will be participating in at school learning starting on September 21st and have a computer that is not school issued, please email Jeannie Mindziak so that we can start preparing to have your computer operational during your first day back.
Because our provided Chromebooks use the Chrome operating system and many of our classes will be using Applications that run in the Chrome Browser your device must be able to run the full (not mobile) version of the Google Chrome Browser. The laptop also needs to be able to connect to an advanced wireless system (WPA2 Enterprise) and 5.0 GHz wireless WiFi.
In order to do these tasks the minimum requirements are
Operating system: As of 2020-2021 VUSD does not support BYOD chromebooks nor Windows S.
Hardware:
An intel or AMD processor with at least 1.6 GHz of power At least four gig Ram and support 5.0 GHz WiFi (wireless). At least 128 Gigabytes of storage.
Additional details.
You give express written agreement that the Vail School District will retain complete administrative control over the School’s laptop’s settings, controls, applications, and so forth, while your student is enrolled at a District School if you have chosen to use a District-provided laptop.
All technological devices brought onto a Vail School District campus are subject to search and seizure. For BYOD devices, you give express written agreement that the Vail School District may install required software, certificates, or change settings in order to satisfy State of Arizona, School, or District requirements. These include but are not limited to filter settings or certificates, state testing web browsers, local remote access applications, or wireless settings. Admin passwords are not being requested. Malicious or filter bypass software or other inappropriate use may cause a user to be banned from using a BYOD device.
Vail Blended Learning
Email: murrayk@vailschooldistrict.org
Website: https://vbl.vailschooldistrict.org/
Location: 10775 East Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Tucson, AZ, USA
Phone: (520)879-1304
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vailblendedlearning
Twitter: @vail39